Corner lock for crates and boxes



APrucATloN man Aus.5. 1919.

VPtn'ned June 13, 1922.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

zr. :PEARL WILSON, or sncnsonvrnnn, FLORIDA.

CORNER LOCK FOR CRATES' AND BOXES.

intensa.

Application filed August 5, 1919.

To @ZZ 'whom it may concern Be it known that LJ. PEARL W'rLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Corner Locks for Crates and Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in corner Vlocks for crates and bones, and it contemplates the use of staples instead of wires for binding the box both at the joints or corners and over the surface, it being understood that these staples may be variously placed, although the intention is to always clinch or upset them at their inner ends, so that they cannot pull out, (which is a desideratum) at the joints or corners, especially since it is a feature of my invention that these staples at the corners are drawn tightly across the material forming the box, and in so doing embedded therein, thus increasing the rigidity of the corner and preventing the staple from being easily displaced.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a portion of a box,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the end of a crate; I l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the application of a staple to a portion of the fabric forming the bei; before the corner is formed;

Fig. t is a similar View after the corner is formed; n

Figs. 5 and 6 are details before and-after the formation ofthe corner in the baitten of acrate; Y

Fig. 7 is a view showing the staggered or zigzag arrangement that the staples might take 'to prevent splitting of batten used on orange and apple boxes and peach and tomato crates;`

Fig. S is a fragmentary view showing the arrangement of the end staples at the end of the fabric on which the bonr or crate is formed.

Figs. 9 and 10 are details.

It is understood that my invention is particularly designed as an improvement on that class of boxes and crates of the knockdown type made in the form of a fabric of long sticks and veneers or thin lumber for boxes, or end sticks, veneers or thin lumber and battens for crates, which hitherto have been bound by continuous wire or wires Speccation of Letters Patent.y Patented June 13, 1922,

Serial No. 315,524.

bound boxes or crates,driven over the main staples of my veneer.

The numeral l represents the veneer, and 2 are the end sticks having tongue and grooved joints 3 and l respectively, whereby the ends of the sticks are adapted to be interlocked when the boX or crate is set up iu completed form.

In the construction of the fabric, these tongue and groovejoints are disposed as shown in Fig. 3. A staple 5 spans these adjacent ends, as shown in Fig. 3, and the ends are driven through and clinched as at 6, as shown in Fig. 4C.

ln the formation of the corner, Ythe staple causes the tongue and groove'to interlock when in the right angle position, the parts` being so disposed in the machine which forms the fabric and makes, drives and clinches the staple that, in the bending to form the. corner lock, the distance between which the ends of the staple enter the sticks is increased, which results in applying tension to the staple with a tendency to pull and stretch the latter, which is resisted by the clinched ends of the staple and the tongue of the joint. rhe result is that the wire of the staple becomes embedded in the web of either .the sticks or the veneer or the battens outside `or thin lumber and end battens.

ln the formation of a boX, these staples 5 preferably slightly overlap, as they are driven in through the veneers into the sticks, as shown in Fig. l0, at which point a smaller' Vstaple 7 may be placed astride the overlapped ends of the main staples and driven into the veneer and sticks.

Vhere battens are used in the crate formation, as shown in Fig. 2, the battens are notched as shown at 8 in Fig. 5, and bound together as shown in Fig. 6, the staple 5 spanning the notch as illustrated and having the same effect of forming a rigid and embedded corner lock for the batten.

lVhere battens are used, it may be desirable to stagger or ziZ-Zag the staples, as shown in Fig. 7, in which event the battens would probably be a little wider. The object of this is to overcome, so far as possible, the tendency of the 'batten to split. Battens, as a rule, are used on orange and apple boxes and peach and tomato crates to allow space for ventilation when piled one on top of another, as well as to strengthen the reinforcing crate itself, which is openwork instead of solid veneer as in boxes.

Itis the intention at the end of the fabric to leave the last staple of each row of staples in an overhanging position, as shown in F ig. 8, to be driven into the other edge when the two edges are brought together in the completion of the box. This is specially desir able in a merchandise `package for fresh meats, lard compounds, and the like.

It is undestood that there are any number of rows of staples, ordinarily about five, in a standard size box, according to the strength required. In orange boxes, it is understood the top is a separate piece and nailed on last, but in a box of this character the first staple set is brought over to fasten the end of the stick and thus complete the end frame, substantially asshown in Fig. 8.

It will be understood that this invention might take the form of a fabric made of ve- ,neer or thin lumber and battens only, stapled together without the sticks and adapted to be nailed around a ready-made or panel head, although it might be a Solid end head, whatever form is desired. /Vhen in the panel form, the sticks may betongue and grooved and stapled just as previously described.

l claim:

l. A corner lock formed of a staple which spans the portion to be made into the corner before the corner `is formed, and has its inner ends driven into head sticks and securely fastened within the sticks against withdrawal after which the corner is formed.

2. The combination with a wooden fabric made of strips of material extending crosswise of each other, of staples driven through said crossed parts and securely fastened at their inner ends to the `inner member, the

corners to be formed in the fabric being always spanned byy a staple, which latter being held at its ends is drawn tightly and rigidly and embedded in the surface of the fabric, whereby it is held rigidly when the corner is formed, and the corner is madeJ rm and secure.

A knock-clown shipping crate comprising a body formed of wooden fabric made of strips of material having reenforcing members extending transversely thereof, of staples driven through said strips of material and into the reenforcing members and securely fastened at their inner ends to the inner members, the adjacent edges of said strips of material being" spaced atthe corners and always spanned by a staple,`lthe latter pass# ing through the strips of material and se-V curely fastened to the :reenforcing'members whereby it is held rigidly when the corner is made firm and secure. V

l. A fabric for boxes and crates in which the parts forming the fabric are held together by staples having their ends overlapped and securely fastened against withdrawal, and smaller staples driven into the fabric over the overlapped staples.

5. A corner lock formed of la staple which spans the portion to be made into the corner before the corner is formed, and has itslends driven through the veneer or thin lumber into the head sticks, after whichgthe corner is formed. Y

6. A corner lock for boxes including two corner pieces constructed and adapted to abut and capable of being turned upon each other and a staple having its ends secured to said pieces',y the length of the staple being less' than the distance from its attached points around the completed corner whereby when the corner is formed tension is applied to the staple and it becomes'embeddedA in the corner of the stock'thus assisting 'inholding the staple in position.

ln testimony whereof hereunto aflix'my signature. Y

J, PEARL l/VLSON. 

